The Readers' Room
By (Author) Antoine Laurain
Translated by Jane Aitken
Translated by Emily Boyce
Translated by Polly Mackintosh
Pushkin Press
Pushkin Press
25th November 2025
United Kingdom
General
Fiction
Fiction in translation
Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general
Paperback
192
Width 129mm, Height 198mm
When the manuscript of a debut crime novel arrives at a Parisian publishing house, everyone in the readers' room is convinced it's something special. And the committee for France's highest literary honour, the Prix Goncourt, agrees.
But when the shortlist is announced, there's a problem for editor Violaine Lepage: she has no idea of the author's identity. Yet there are clues in the book that point to a close connection with her own life.
As the police begin to investigate a series of murders strangely reminiscent of those recounted in the book, Violaine is not the only one looking for answers - but with her memory impaired after an accident, she might be the last to find them.
'The plot blends mystery with comedy to great effect' - Daily Mail
'A stylish whodunnit blended with an affectionate send-up of the world of books' - Sunday Mirror
'An elegantly written little gem... the whole thing is such fun' - Big Issue
'Laurain has spun a fantastically intricate web here, where the smallest detail could be significant, and, no matter how sure you are that youve grasped it, he is one step ahead. Joyously far-fetched and metafictional' - Herald
Antoine Laurain was born in Paris and is a journalist, antiques collector and award-winning author of ten novels, including The Red Notebook and The President's Hat. His books have been translated into 25 languages and sold more than 200,000 copies in English. He lives in Paris, France.